PA Reactor Online After ReFueling

Associated Press

SHIPPINGPORT, Pa. (AP) — A reactor that was shut down for refueling Sept. 30 at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in western Pennsylvania has been restarted and is expected to reach full capacity in the next week.

FirstEnergy Corp. spokeswoman Jennifer Young says the 911-megawatt plant was operating at 41 percent power early Tuesday, after being restarted Monday.

The Unit 1 reactor shut down so workers could replace 60 of its 157 fuel assemblies.

Other aspects of the reactor were improved and inspected, including replacing two low-pressure turbines. The 153-ton rotors have a different blade design that is supposed to make the plant more efficient.

The plant is located about 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Its other power unit, which is newer, was closed for refueling last year.